In March of 2003 in Morocco, fourteen Moroccan metalheads were given sentences of three months to a year. Initially, they were arrested for disturbing public order because they were wearing (according to authorities) “satanic, anti-islamic t-shirts depicting the devil and death.” (Giles Tremlett. The Guardian). Nine of the metalheads arrested were members of the bands Nekros, Infected Brains and Reborn. The other five were fans of the bands. The judge who sentenced the fourteen young citizens was quoted as saying it was “suspicious” that the musicians wrote their lyrics in English instead of Arabic. He was also quoted as saying that “normal people go to concerts in suits and ties.” (Tremlett. The Guardian). Manny accuse the judge of going on a witch-hunt to please Islamists, especially since the convicted metalheads recited sections of the Koran when they were accused of undermining the countries religion. The trial hilighted not only the struggle for metal fans in Morocco, but for young people in general. The Chief editor of Tel Quel magazine, which is a well known Moroccan weekly magazine, was quoted as saying, “Morocco's young people will not feel at home in their own country. I think our judicial system needs psychologists if they don't understand that young people are by essence subversive and like to shock." (Tremlett, the Guardian).
A decade later, things have changed for metalheads in Morocco. Every year in Casablanca, the Tremplin Music Festival hosts many heavy metal bands where attendees can dress in whatever clothing they want and mosh to aggressive music. One of the members for selecting bands for the festival is Nabyl Guennouni, who was one of the fourteen musicians arrested for wearing “satanic and anti-islamic t-shirts.” He says that the trial lead to more acceptance of alternative sub-cultures in Morocco. One of the founders of the Tremplin music festival said this about the trials: “The publicity over the satanic-music trial catapulted us from obscure concert halls for 200 people to football stadiums.” (LA Times). Before Tremplin, the founders organized a “metal against terrorism” concert. "If we didn't succeed in channeling the aspirations and frustrations of young people in Morocco, the alternative was terrorism," said Guennouni. (LA Times). King Mohammed VI responded by giving the founders a 250,000 grant to build a recording studio for young musicians to record. (LA Times). It’s clearly evident that heavy metal not only made an impact on the lives of its fans in Morocco, but also for all young people living there. It’s incredible that in such a short amount of time, the views on heavy metal in the public eye were completely changed.
One of the most popular metal bands in the Arab World is Israel’s Orphaned Land. Throughout their career, Orphaned Land has become more than just a band, they have become the poster band of peace through music in the Arab world. With their lyrics and sounds they promote unity between the Arab world’s three biggest religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Orphaned Land cites that musically they use Arab and Mediterranean rhythms as well as Arab and Mediterranean instruments to attract their fans. When asked why they were so popular, lead singer Khobi Fari said, “they hear the sounds and rhythms they’re familiar with and they become fans before they know we’re Israeli.” (J-post). This proves true with their fanbase ranging from Syria to Lebanon to Egypt even to Indonesia. In an interview before a show in Istanbul, Orphaned Land said that at the moment they are Israel's only ambassadors to Turkey and that they hope to create better ties with other countries like Turkey through their music. (J-Post).
In 2003, the Iraqi based metal band Acrassicauda, which translates to Black Scorpion in Latin, had an article written about them in Vice Magazine. The article lead to small, but positive responses from the western population and many negative responses from the their home country of Iraq. Before 2003, they were only able to play three shows before their lead singer fled the country after the fall of Saddam Hussein. Due to the increased security after the fall of Saddam Hussein the band received death threats from Islamic fundamentalists and insurgent groups accusing them of worshipers of satan. (Heavy Metal in Baghdad). This created complications for the band to play gigs and even practice.
In 2007, the rockumentary titled Heavy Metal in Baghdad was released after three years of production.
The film, which was directed by Vice co-founder Suroosh Alvi and the head of VIce Films Eddy Moretti, was about their trip to Iraq to help set up a concert for Acrassicauda. The directors, (whom were strapped with bullet proof vests for nearly the entire production) and Acrassicauda were successfully able to actually sell out their show. Acrassicauda says that at previous gigs they weren’t allowed to play unless they dedicated a song or their entire set to Saddam Hussein. They also said during their gigs it can be dangerous for them and their members of the audience to headbang because it could be a interpreted as a Jewish prayer. In fact, during the concert they lose power in the middle of a song and have to wait for it to turn back on before they continue their set. (Heavy Metal in Baghdad).
A year later, Alvia and Moretti returned to find that the war taken its toll on Acrassicauda. Their practice space had been destroyed and the venue where they had their sold out gig the year before had been bombed. Members of the band were now living in Damascus, Syria as refugees and had not played music in almost a year. Towards the end of the film, Alvia and Moretti are able to get Acrassicauda in the studio to record three songs, which brightens up their spirits. Unfortunately, the film does not end on happy terms. Alvia and Moretti show Acrassicauda images of their bombed out practice space which reduces them to tears. The film ends with a powerful quote from the drummer where he says (when referring to the images on the television) “These are the things you turn your back on. These are the things you turn your TV off whenever, or like change the channel when it’s on. So for you fuckers down there, this is how it goes, this is the daily life in Iraq...This goes to all of you fuckers. Pigs!” (Heavy Metal in Baghdad).
Heavy metal in the Arab World has come a long way since it first made its presence known in 1997 when the Grand Mufti of Egypt called for the execution of over one-hundred metalheads in what was dubbed a “Satanic metal affair.” (Levine). Though it still is not nearly as accepted as it is in the western world, heavy metal has embedded itself into the culture of the youth and no god or government isn’t going to take that away, no matter how hard they try. As time goes on, one can only hope the current metalheads will get older and the future generations will one day be able to headbang along their elders after their prayers.
Works Cited
Tremlett, Giles. "Moroccan Judge Jails Metalheads." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 11 Mar. 2003. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
Heavy Metal in Baghdad. Alvi, Suroosh. Vice, 2007. Film
Levine, Mark. "Comments (41)." Islam's Advance: PostGlobal on Washingtonpost.com. News Week, n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
"Babylon & Beyond." MOROCCO: Rock, Rap and Heavy Metal Music Fans Rejoice in Newfound Freedom. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
"African Metal: Algeria & Morocco." African Metal: Algeria & Morocco. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Apr. 2014.
"Orphaned Land: Heavy Metal Envoys to Muslim World." Www.JPost.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Apr. 2014.
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